Skip links

France VAT country guide 2024

VAT compliance and reporting rules in France

Below is summary of the major rules provided under French VAT rules (Code Général des Impôt – CGI – the French Tax Code. Livre des Procédures Fiscales (Fiscal Procedures Code)), plus adoption of EU VAT Directive provisions. Check our country VAT guides for other jurisdictions.

Our VAT Calculator & VAT Filer products on a single platform, VAT Calc,  are unique in that they come with all of this included out-of-the box for France and scores of other countries around the world.

France VAT country guide

Highlights Local term Taxe sur la valuer ajoutée - TVA
VAT Rates - standard 20%
VAT Rates - reduced 5.5%; 10%; 2.1%; 0%
VAT number format FR 12345678901
Registration threshold Goods €91,800; Services €36,800 for resident; nil for non-resident businesses; €10,000 for pan-EU digital services and goods OSS return. Intracommunity acquisitions €10,000
VAT Group French VAT group rules
VAT recovery foreign businesses Yes
Fiscal Representative French fiscal representative rules
Currency Euro €,  January 1999
Administration Introduction VAT was introduced in France in 1954. It is a founding member of the European Union
VAT laws Code Général des Impôt - CGI - the French Tax Code. Livre des Procédures Fiscales (Fiscal Procedures Code). Also EU VAT Directive which takes supremacy as part of EU membership
Tax Authorities Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance (Ministère des Finances et des Comptes publics). For foreign entities: Service des impôts des entreprises étrangères (SIEE) at Noisy
VAT Rates Standard rate 20%
Reduced rates 5.5%: foodstuffs; cultural; live cultural and sport events; cinema; domestic Green spend; social housing; domestic power; books. 10%: takeaway foods; overnight accommodation; certain fish produce for consumption;  public passenger transport; medicine; 2.1%: press publications; theatre; certain medicines; 
Zero-rated Air and sea transport; sea vessels; exports outside of the EU; intra-community supplies of goods
Exempt Immovable property; betting; newly constructed property under 5 years old; financial services; education; healthcare; social welfare
Scope of VAT Scope of VAT Provision of domestic taxable goods and services; EU imports; intra-community acquisitions; Distance selling of goods B2C (OSS or IOSS); receipt of services or goods via the reverse charge
Time of supply Goods & Services (general rule) Goods transfer of control which generally means delivery. Services when performed;
Reverse Charge  Time of supply of the service for both domestic and non-resident supplies
Continuous  Services Generally at payment VAT period end
Imports Time of clearance into free circulation; or import VAT deferment
Goods on approval and return VAT liability arises at switch in ownership, so potentially only when approval period ends.
Registration VAT registration threshold Goods €85,800; Services €34,400 for resident; nil for non-resident businesses; €10,000 for pan-EU digital services and goods OSS return. Intracommunity acquisitions 10,000
Voluntary VAT registration Yes, for resident businesses
VAT number format FR 12345678901
VAT Group Until 2023, there is only a simple VAT group credit/debit offset regime. From 2023, linked companies may form full VAT group https://www.vatcalc.com/France/france-vat-groups-from-2023/
Non-residents Extensive use of reverse charge for goods and services exempting non-French businesses from registering if customer (French or not)  is French VAT registered.  IOSS or OSS for distance selling from third countries
Fiscal Representative Non-EU countries must appoint an accredited French resident as fiscal representative unless reciprocity agreement (UK, Norway and several more which have bi-lateral agreement) https://www.vatcalc.com/vat/France-confirms-vat-fiscal-representation-countries/. The non-resident is then provided a SIRET-only number. Limited fiscal representation available for certain transactions with no VAT liability. IOSS B2C import VAT registrations requires 'Intermediary' for non-EU, and does share client's VAT liabilities.
Digital Services France participates in the EU single  One Stop Shop (OSS) VAT return for digital, telecoms and broadcast services. This was formerly the MOSS regime until 30 June 2021
Pre VAT registration costs Permitted for set-up and preparation costs
VAT Invoices Issuance Immediately at time of supply (delivery; provision; payment)
Content Date; unique, sequential invoice number; Name and address of supplier; VAT number; Description, quantity and date of supply of goods/services; name and address of customer; gross, VAT and net price; VAT rate applied; any discount applied; reasons and legal reference for any exemption; fiscal representative details if applicable
E-invoices French e-invoice rules Sept 2026
Simplified invoices If not exceeding €150; limited customer requirements for certain B2C sectors such as café or restaurants etc; No invoice required for retail unless requested 
Self-billing Permitted if agreed between customer and supplier.
Retention of invoices Six years. Records may be kept in France or another EU member state
FX rules European Central Bank on date of VAT payment due
Invoice corrections Via credit note only with reference to original invoice number
Compliance Right to deduct Excluded: Staff accommodation. Staff mobile phones; VAT on goods used less than 10% for business; business gifts above €73 (2021); passenger transport; costs related to exempt supplies (partial exemption may apply)
Call-off stock Non-residents may avoid the obligation to VAT register and record goods transfers where placed under the exclusive control of a French-resident taxpayer - Call Off Stock. This is limited to 3 months of the goods' movement. Goods held by supplier in warehouse where eventual customer is not yet known (B2B or B2C) requires French VAT registration (Consignment Stock).
Reverse Charge - B2B Foreign taxpayers if VAT registered or not - sales to French and non-French VAT registered taxpayers; supply and install; supply of gas and electricity even if both parties French resident; electronic communications; carbon trading; gold; waste and recycling goods; certain construction and repairs to immovable property
Cash discounts No requirement to issue a credit note if discount taken up; adjustment through VAT returns of seller and customer.
Bad debt relief VAT on bad debts may be reclaimed if reasonable proof of failed legal actions to recover before the end of the calendar after the original invoice date.
Import VAT deferment French import VAT deferment rules
VAT warehouse France has introduced a customs and VAT warehousing scheme in accordance with the EU VAT Directive. Non-residents typically need to VAT register to trade goods under such a scheme. Authorisation is required to operate a warehouse or use third party facilities. 
Supply & install French VAT registration required where the goods manufactured and installed in France. If the supplier is non-resident, the customer becomes liable for VAT under reverse charge.
Use and enjoyment services Only on certain B2C services provided by non-EU supplier, including consulting and advertising require a French VAT registration.
Capital goods adjustment period Movable property: four years. Immovable property: 19 years
Non-residents VAT recovery EU businesses may reclaim French VAT through their home country's VAT portal under 8th Directive quarterly returns above €400, including annual claim by 30 Sept following year. Non-EU businesses may apply directly to French authorities via new (2021) online portal which requires invoice upload. No country reciprocity agreements required
VAT on Digital Services France follows the EU VAT on digital services regime, introduced in 2015. This includes participation in the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) single EU VAT return (formerly MOSS until 30 June 2021)
Live events No VAT registration by non-residents
Distance selling threshold for goods Nil. Following the EU ecommerce VAT package reforms from 1 July 2021, local French VAT must be charged on all sales by non-French EU e-commerce sellers shipping from within the EU.  Imported distance sales not exceeding €150 liable to French sales VAT with  IOSS return option
Cash accounting scheme For resident businesses with turnover below €300,00 per annum and no intra-community supplies
VAT registered cash tills N/a
Statute of limitations Three years
Other
VAT Returns Frequency Monthly. Annual if taxable turnover below €4,000 per annum.
Filing method Electronic via TéléTVA on the government VAT portal
Deadlines (inc payments) 19th of month  following return period for non-residents. Between 21 and 24 for resident taxpayers *or next working day if holiday or weekend. Payment of any VAT on the same date via direct debit only.
VAT credits Excess input VAT may be reclaimed if above €760 in the monthly return (may trigger audit); or rolled over to next return
Corrections Either by replacement return or via credit return (which overwrites wrong entry with correct VAT liability). New return if above €4,000 corrective return
Non-residents 19th of month  following return period for non-residents.
Other filings Intrastat and EC Sales Listing are combined into single monthly Déclaration d'echanges des biens - DEB. Intra-community Dispatches and Arrivals listed separately within the DEB.Threshold of €460,000 per annum for both. Due by 20th of following month. EC Sales Listing for services (Déclaration Européenee de Services - DES) due by 10th of following month.
SAF-T French SAF-T rules
Penalties & interest 5% of VAT due for late payments plus 0.2% per month ongoing interest charge; 10% for late filings
B2C Distance Selling returns France participates in the One-Stop-Shop pan-EU VAT return for distance selling, introduced in July 2021.

Newsletter

Get our latest news right in your mailbox